ARE AFL FANS READY TO START LEARNING THE BENSON BOOGIE?

The Arena Football League Board of Governors approved
the application for Saints Owner Tom Benson to place an AFL
team in New Orleans for the '99 or 2000 season. The Saints
are the first-ever NFL team to apply for and purchase an AFL
team. NFL bylaws previously prohibited NFL owners from
investing in other football leagues or teams, but an
amendment to the NFL Constitution was passed last month
which made the AFL an exception. The only remaining
requirement for Benson is to secure a lease at New Orleans
Arena, which is expected to open in July '99 (AFL). The AP
reports that AFL execs feel that "as many as nine more NFL
teams" may be venturing into the AFL (AP/DETROIT NEWS, 6/4).